BAQs: The Boyd’s

As I’ve continued to research the ties between the Fire Companies, Temperance Groups, churches, and women’s groups, the maze of connections is astounding. Men held leadership roles in multiple organizations, even sometimes the women’s groups. Determining if a specific block was made by a group or individual for sale, when they belonged to multiple groups might be insurmountable. Without written documentation, in some cases the best I can do is point out some of the connections as I continue to search for original source documentation.

I originally started BAQ research because of several BAQ’s in the Poos Collection. The BAQ with Rose Border is heavily tied to Washingtonian Temperance Union through the images depicted, the names, and the familial ties to those in the organization. Mary Boyd signed one of the distinctive blocks, which for tracking purposes we’ve called Lollipop Flowers and Basket. Kay Triplett has been tracking these blocks for some time and has located more than 25 such blocks, many exact replicas, some with variances.

Mary Boyd’s name appears on more than one of these style blocks, and the Boyd’s name appears on more than five quilts (not pictured 1844 Margaret Boyd Album Quilt/Erickson, Mrs. Harvey/Dunton, Updegraff/IQM etc.). They are connected by marriage to even more quilts and connected through organizations to an even larger number of quilts. Because so many of these blocks exist, we had considered the possibility that the blocks were sold as a fundraiser, or as pre-cut and or basted blocks by a professional. If these blocks were mass produced, I’ve identified a list of potential makers.

Margaret Boyd whose name appears on multiple blocks was married to Samuel Boyd a member of the Baltimore City Council 2^nd Branch and brought forth several bills in support of several fire companies’ including one in which his brother Joseph Boyd was involved. Joseph was married to Mary Boyd whose name is on at least 3 blocks. Additionally, a lone block inscribed by Catherine Boyd (daughter of Margaret and Samuel Boyd or the wife of William Boyd his brother) in the Maryland Center for History and Culture provides another potential maker since she won an award for her needlework and dressmaking skills in 1849. Finally, Mary Jane Boyd was a milliner who had a shop in Baltimore at the corner of Orleans and Eden is another potential maker. We have documentation of 2 different milliners making and selling album squares in their business. Additionally, Mary Jane was arrested for drinking which led to a connection to the temperance organization.